Wednesday, March 07, 2007

In fashion

Maurice Ramey (left), Laurice Merritt, James Hall and Maurice Conway were stylishly seeing and being seen Friday at Saks Fifth Avenue The Art of Style Fashion Show, Style Presentation and Luncheon. It was held at Shreveport Regional Arts Council artspace as part of "In Fashion: The Art of Style."

And, what a delightful interlude it was.

Becky Morris, public relations manager for Saks-Galleria, Dallas, discussed all the trends with us.

So, what is hot?

Cropped jackets. Details, like fringe or other embellishments on purses. Narrower silhouettes. "Long and lean," said Morris.

Trapeze look, reminiscent of retro.

Black patent platforms — some four-inches high — but also ballerina flats.Shine as in satin fabric or gold threads.

And, what were the trendies themselves wearing?

Frances Anderson had it down pat. She wore a trapeze-shaped gray print dress with shiny details.

SRAC chief Sandi Kallenberg toted a Prada purse with fringe she bought in New York. The same purse was featured in the Saks video presentation.

Waynette Ballengee wore a version of the "Little Black Dress," which Morris said is a closet mainstay. (A spring suggestion: "Trumpet skirt. With accessories, there are a million ways to wear it."

And Morris. She pulled her hair back with a headband, wore a short navy damask-inspired coat over a soft short dress with high-heel black knee boots.

In Fashion exhibit curator Mark Hermosillo is always stylish and wore with his plaid jacket a solid shirt with a smashing vertically striped tie.

By the way, "In Style: The Art of Fashion," which features vintage togs from local closets, closes Saturday with "Show Off Your Chapeau."